Vehicle-axle.



' Patented Apr. 3, |900. A. CUNNINGHAM.

VEHICLE AXLE.

(Applicacimi fixed Jan. 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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llllllltl llllllllllllll I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,571, dated April 3,1900.

' Application flied January 14,1899. serialna. 702,149. (ramada.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known'that I, ALEXANDER CUNNING- HAM, of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wheel-Boxes for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and. to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in wheel-boxes for vehicles ofthat kind embracing a closed box adapted to retain the oil and uponwhich the hub is secured and means attached to the inner end of the hubwhereby the same is held securely upon the axle.

The invention consists of the matters hereinafter more fully set forth,and defined in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure l illustrates the axle of a wagon provided witha device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a nut adapted to engage the inner end ofthe hub-box. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a skein made in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 5 is a side view of the box which fits over thesaid skein. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, Arepresents awooden axle as used in vehicles, upon thetapered ends of which are secured the skeins B B, provided at' pointsnear the inner ends of each with raised integral collars or bands b b.

D D indicate the hub-boxes, having internal dimensions complemental tothe dimensions and form of the skeins B B and provided at their innerends with the enlargements d d, forming internal shoulders for contactwith the collars b b. The said enlarged parts on the inner ends of saidboxes are internally screw-threaded and when in place upon the skeinsproject over the collars b b, leaving a space between the saidscrewthreads and the collar. C C indicate nuts externally screw-threadedand apertured to t over the inner ends of the said skeins and providedalso with an interior bearing-shoulder adapted for contact with thecollars b b.

The screw-threads on each of the said nuts arek complemental to thescrew-threads on the corresponding boxes D D. The boxes D D are securedrigidly in the hubs E E in a familiar manner. For the purpose ofsecurely holding the said skeins from working off the axles and thebetter to strengthen the axle longitudinal truss-rods F F are secured inthe outer end of said skeins and pass through the axles diagonally fromthe opposite ends toward the center thereof. The direction of the saidtruss-rods is downwardly toward the center in such manner that the innerscrew-threaded extremities of the said rods will approach each other ata point somewhat below the center of the axle. f indicates a tnrnbuckleof the usual construction, by means of which said rods may be placedunder tension and the length of the rods adjusted.

The Wooden axle A may be of any desired form or construction and adaptedto be used upon any vehicle. The skeins B have closed integral outerends. Said skeins are conical in form for the greater part of theirlength. The collar h is shown as having the form of an integral raisedlian ge on the skein, having bearing-faces on its inner and outer facesadapted for contact with the nut C and box l). The portions of the saidskeins inside of the collars Z7 b and to which the nuts are applied arecylindric and fit closely within the nuts. The closed ends of the saidskeins are provided with apertures near the upper side thereof toreceive the ends of the truss-rods.

The said apertures are enlarged at the outer faces of the end -walls ofthe skeins and adapted to receive the conical ends of said truss-rods insuch manner that when the same are-inserted in place the outer partsthereof shall be iiush with or'countersunk into the outer surface of thesaid end wall of the skein.

Obviously the screw-thread may be on either the inner or outer side ofthe enlarged portion of the box. It is preferred, however,

that the screw-threaded portion be internal the more eectually toprevent access of dirt to the parts. The nuts C act to draw the said IOOthe cylindrical portion of the skein, so that when the nut is in itsposition upon the skein and the internal shoulder of the said nut is inbearing against the collar of the skein the head of the said nut will bein close proximity to the Wood of the axle, thereby preventing foreignbodies finding their Way into the joint between the nut and sleeve. Thetrussrods F F are inserted in the aperture in the end of the skeinheretofore described and through passages bored in the axle on linesextending diagonally downward across the central axis of the said axleand are of such length that the inner ends thereof, Which are oppositelyscrew-threaded, as herein shown,

shall nearly meet, as heretofore described. It is preferable thatapertured brackets a a be secured upon the under side of the axle nearthe inner ends of the truss-rods to steady the said rods and form postsor studs by which the upward pressure of the truss-rods is transmittedto the axle. Said brackets also prevent the rods from being knocked outof position by coming in contact with any obstruction.

It is obvious that the device herein shown may be constructed verycheaply and possesses many advantages notffound in axlebearingsheretofore constructed,among which may be mentioned the fact that thewheelhub cannot in any manner be affected injurioiisly by the grease oroil used between the skein and sleeve, inasmuch as it is closelyconfined bythe boxes thus made. The wheel also will run much longerwithout reoiling than in other devices. Moreover, the device presents amuch more cleanly appearance, inasmuch as the outer end of the hubcannot at any time accumulate the dirt and grease, as common in the useof other devices. Moreover, so far as the skeins having closed outerends and the truss-rods engaged with the end walls thereof are concernedthis construction has the advantage of affording a strong, rigid, andunyielding connection of the ends of the truss-rods with the ends of theaxle, while at the same time affording a means of securing the skeinsfirmly upon the axle Without possibility of the same coming off orbecoming loosened. Inasmuch as the heads of the trussrods arecountersunk into the said end Wall of the skein the integral end of thehub-box is run in close contact therewith, which permits a much shorterhub being used than has heretofore been possible.-

I claim as my invention- The combination with a Wooden axle, ofaxle-skeins fitting over the ends of the Wooden axle and provided attheir outer ends with aclose end wall and having collars at their innerends, truss-rods extending obliquely through the axle-arms of the woodenaxle and connected with each other beneath the central part of the axleby a turnbuckle or like means, the outer ends of said truss-rods bcingattached to the upper parts of the end Walls of the skeins by means ofcountersunk heads, and hub-boxes having integral end Walls at theirouter ends which iit against the integral end walls of' the skeins, saidhubboxes being provided at ther inner ends with shoulders adapted tobear against the collars on the skeins and with screw-threads, and nutsengaging the screw-threaded parts of the boxes and bearing against thecollars.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiix mysignature, in presence of t'Wo Witnesses, this 5th day of January, A. D.1599.

ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

C. W. HILLS, R. CUTHBERT VIVIAN.

